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Published: June 16th 2010
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Marika was sad to say good bye to Vegas and all the shopping opportunities, but onwards we go to Los Angeles and Santa Monica. We arrived at LAX and got a taxi to Santa Monica which took about 30 minutes. We checked in, got settled, and hit the shops and searched for coffee as usual.
3rd Street Promenade was one street behind out hotel and was about 4 blocks that was closed to traffic. Lots of shops, some buskers, seats and lots of good old fashion people watching opportunities. We were very relived to find a lot of places that made espresso coffee, not just the Americano boiled crap they like. After a few hours wandering along the Promenade we walked along the cost road over looking Santa Monica beach and pier. It was very overcast and cool. It was surprising how many people were on the beach, and some of them in the water. It was probably about 15 degrees at around 5 in the afternoon, not swimming weather by our standards. After asking around for restaurant recommendations we settled on one at a near by hotel. The restaurant was on the top floor with a great view had
it not been so foggy. Beautiful and really nice California wine.
Monday morning we set off on the Stars Tour, the shuttle picked us up at 7:45am and took us in to Los Angeles via a number of other hotel pick ups. We boarded out tour bus and met our very cheesy guide who played ‘applauding’ sound bites to his own jokes for the entire two and a half hours. We saw a lot of famous movie stars fences, gates and security camera, and a few less famous stars front yards. We did drive passed the guy that plays Dexter, he was in his car with his wife and our bus blocked them for a few moments. He was annoyed, even tooted his horn at us. It was fun to drive around LA, Hollywood and Beverly Hills in the hope of seeing someone famous. It was a very foggy day and the “Hollywood” sign was a bit hard to see, but we did see it.
The tour finished around lunch time and Marika headed back to Santa Monica to change hotels as the room we were in was noisy, and the hotel was a little old. But is
was clean and the staff were very nice and helpful. I was enquiring about upgrading my Stars Tour ticket to include Universal Studios. A lady, a fellow Aussie over heard me and gave me her ticket because she wasn’t feeling very well. So I got a free ticket, including transport to Universal Studio and back to my hotel in Santa Monica.
I got a map and planned my afternoon. I wanted to do everything except the House of Horrors. The whole place was really well set out, lots of information and directions every where. I got to see the Blues Brothers, Shrek, Waterworld, and animal circus thing, Terminator and an hour tour through the back blocks of the studio where there are sets and special effects studios to see. The Shrek and Terminator shows were in theatres and they were 3D and the seats moved and water got sprayed on you. When the donkey sneezed in Shrek, a light blast of water came from the seats in front. And when spiders fell from the ceiling in Terminator a blast of air shot out the back of your chair. Yes is scared me. Yes I screamed. Yes I jumped. But
it was great fun. Got back to the hotel tired and hungry after a fun, but long day. Grabbed a quick crepe for dinner and crashed.
Marika and I caught up in the morning for coffee then headed for the Hop On Hop Off bus tour. We headed straight for Rodeo Drive and walked up and down and round and round looking for someone famous. I can’t be sure, but I think we walked right past of the doctors from Grey’s Anatomy. Not McDreamy, McSteamy or George, the other one that was married to Izzy. We had a very nice lunch and then made our way to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel where Pretty Women was filmed.
Luckily Marika and I weren’t in the same hotel room after all, as mum text me at 4am to get on to Skype. I’m glad I did, every one was there for mum’s birthday and Dylan and I sang happy birthday to mum on Skype.
Taxi at 7:30am Wednesday morning to go to San Francisco, the last city with Marika before she heads home and I head to Central America.
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